Inhibition of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase reduces glial cell-mediated inflammation and induces the expression of Cx43 in astroglias after cerebral ischemia

• AMPK inhibition played protective effect after mice brain ischemia reperfusion injury.
• AMPK inhibition prevented over activation of astroglias and microglias.
• AMPK inhibition significantly increased the expression of Cx43 in astroglias.
• AMPK inhibition suppressed the glial cells-mediated inflammation.

We investigated the protective effect of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibition on cerebral ischemic injury of mice, and characterized the role of AMPK inhibition on astrocytes, microglias, and neuroinflammation. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in male Kunming mice, and Compound C was used to inhibit AMPK activity. The neurobehavioral scores, infarct volumes, phosphorylation of AMPK, activation of the glial cells, levels of connexin 43 (Cx43), and related inflammatory mediators were affected by the presence or absence of AMPK inhibitor Compound C. AMPK was activated after cerebral ischemia. AMPK inhibition reduced infarct size and improved neurological outcomes after 24 h reperfusion of mice. Furthermore, our study revealed that the mechanisms of neuroprotection of AMPK inhibition may be as follows: (1) inhibiting the excessive activation of astrocyte and microglia cells, (2) stabilizing the expression of protective proteins such as Cx43 in astroglias, and (3) inhibiting the release of microglial pro-inflammatory factors. These results demonstrated that AMPK inhibition attenuated cerebral ischemic injury, at least in part, by glial cell-mediated protective effects in mice.